We fully expected to see the new Volkswagen Polo GTi at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, having been given some teaser details at the launch of the facelifted Polo earlier this year. It was not to be, with VW having enough new cars to draw the crowds at the German show. Instead, the new baby GTi gets its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.

Initial details suggest that the Polo GTi will be a fun to drive and lively junior hot hatch in a market now dominated by 200bhp+ hot hatches such as the Vauxhall Astra VXR, forthcoming Ford Focus ST and of course the Polo's big brother, the Golf GTi. Unsurprisingly, the Polo GTi takes many visual cues from the Golf version, including five-spoke 16-inch alloys, polished stainless steel twin exhausts, a boot spoiler and more prominently, a distinctive new nose incorporating the black honeycomb GTi grille and black central section complemented by menacing new black surrounds to the headlights. At a glance, you'll think it's the Golf GTi.

The theme continues inside, with the fitment of chequered sports seats with the 'GTi' legend embossed in the back rests. The red and black theme continues in the seat belts, gear lever and steering wheel, a neat three-spoke item, but not flat bottomed as in the Golf. Standard equipment is likely to be generous, though final UK specification has yet to be decided upon.

What is sure is that the new Polo GTi will be powered by VW's venerable turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. With five valves per cylinder and an intercooler reducing the temperature of the air entering the engine, this unit pushes out 150bhp in the Polo's installation, backed up by a peak torque figure of 169lb.ft. These figures should translate into decent real-world pace, with claimed figures of 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 134mph.

We'll be at the Tokyo Show in a couple of weeks to see the Polo for ourselves. The GTi will cost about £13,000 in Germany, but will probably be a couple of grand more in the UK. Watch out for our review early next year in the main VW Road Tests page.

Shane O' Donoghue - 7 Oct 2005